East Central Region Happenings
Submitted by Stephen Balke, General Grand Recorder, Cryptic Masons International

Steve Striggow
East Central Regional Deputy General Grand Master
On July 8, a regional conference call was held wih the East Central Region Region Grand Recorders. These calls will be mentioned in the Decryption as a way to nofify every Companion of what is happening with each Region. The Jurisdictional Highlights of the call are below. Other Regional Calls will be covered in the upcoming weeks.
- Sickness and Distress
- Paula Wood – keep in thoughts and prayers.
- Triennial
- General Grand Council Triennial Assembly will be fully Electronic.
- Held on Saturday, September 26, 2020.
- Voting for General Grand Council will be electronically managed, cast and tabulated.
- Specifics on the process will be forthcoming (planned for 15 July).
- General Grand Council Triennial Assembly will be fully Electronic.
- General Grand Resources
- Electronic Conferencing
- Zoom – Used for the last two years, no malware apparent.
- Upgraded to 500 users
- Zoom – Used for the last two years, no malware apparent.
- Voting
- Electronic Conferencing
- GGR Office
- Annual Returns and per capita are on your normal timeline.
- Awards are intended to get there on the same/usual timeline.
- CMMRF
- Feedback – Dr. Murphy – All the research is on hold for now except for actual ongoing trials – still doing some research for non-human contact projects.
- Specific stem cells designated for a project so they were retasked to do COVID research – preliminary success for threating systems.
- Seeking people who are interested in running for the Board of Trustees for the At-Large positions – deadline for submission 15 July. Ensure people are ready to be a part of an active working Board.
- We have a 4th board space open to those who are outside the United States, specifically put in place to encourage participation outside the USA.
- Send any declarations of availability to cmmrf@aol.com.
- Feedback – Dr. Murphy – All the research is on hold for now except for actual ongoing trials – still doing some research for non-human contact projects.
- Events
- Regional Conference
- York Rite Leadership is on for conferences.
- 2nd Saturday in March in Ft. Wayne.
- Jurisdiction Events
- IN – Sessions – Next April – Courtyard by Marriott, Muncie, IN.
- Alternative/Backup – Zoom.
- OKI – Cancelled.
- Councils are starting to have meetings this month, choice to go virtual or in person; Grand Lodge as well – social distancing – caps on people by space available.
- Ish Sodi Banquet 1st Saturday (3rd) in October.
- KY – Still closed down to in person meetings.
- Grand Sessions planned in person.
- September 20-22, Tuesday Grand Council.
- MI – August – Still on, conversations on alternatives are ongoing.
- Electronic at least for observers. Zoom platform. Testing next week.
- MIGM Report, Elections, Reports and Floor – no legislation.
- Hotel is just now opening up.
- Current meeting of 50 people allowed – need 150 inside.
- Chapter and Council go to Saturday (morning and afternoon respectively).
- Side bodies closed.
- If Grand Commandery – Chapter/Council goes to Friday.
- 1 July is the drop dead date when the decision will be made.
- New project: virtualizing the Grand Council Proceedings
- Michele will search the GGC Library for proceedings
- Bill sent an inquiring email to Missouri Lodge of Research/Archives.
- Set aside until after the Sessions.
- Table Council in September tentative.
- IN – Sessions – Next April – Courtyard by Marriott, Muncie, IN.
- Regional Conference
- Feedback
- East Central – Still in holding pattern.
- DGGM
- Triennial – Abbreviated – Holding over legislation – Special Meeting in 2021 – possibly with Grand Encampment Triennial.